Save That Miserable Protagonist - Chapter 12

The car did not head back to the university, nor did it drive toward the kind of extravagant entertainment venues Pei Tingsong had expected.

Lu Xun drove all the way to the outskirts of Jiangcheng, finally pulling up before a massive, brightly lit complex with a strikingly modern aesthetic. As Pei Tingsong stepped out of the car, he saw a giant sign with sharp metallic lettering that read: Aurora Circuit Club.

Even at night, the thunderous roar of engines echoed through the air, and a faint scent of gasoline permeated the surroundings. Before even walking inside, Pei Tingsong could sense a restless, electric excitement in the atmosphere.

“Let us go,” Lu Xun said, tilting his head toward him with a triumphant, bold grin. “You probably did not know this, but I am actually a professional Formula One racer.”

As he spoke, he led Pei Tingsong into the main hall. “This club is owned by Yu Che. That guy is a bit out of his mind, and his behavior can be quite erratic. He has all the typical vices of a wealthy heir, racing included, but he has done a great job with this club. It is professional grade.”

Pei Tingsong followed him, taking in his surroundings. The club featured a cold, industrial design, and the walls were adorned with racing photographs and trophies.

Upon seeing Lu Xun, the staff immediately rushed over to greet him. “Young Master Lu, you have arrived?”

“Yes, I brought a friend along to have some fun,” Lu Xun replied with a casual nod. He took the keys handed to him and offered a quick word of thanks before leading Pei Tingsong through several corridors with practiced ease. At the end of the hall, the view suddenly opened up.

Before them lay a professional racetrack, illuminated by powerful floodlights that turned night into day. Several sleek racing cars covered in sponsor decals stood ready while engineers busied themselves with various adjustments.

After greeting the team, Lu Xun walked over to a matte black car with lines as smooth and predatory as a cheetah. He patted the chassis and turned back to look at a stunned Pei Tingsong.

“How is it? It is handsome, right?”

Most young men had a natural affinity for cars, and even someone like Pei Tingsong, whose mind was usually consumed by studying and earning money, was no exception. “It is handsome.”

“As long as you think so,” Lu Xun said, his brow arching slightly. His amber green pupils sparkled with excitement under the bright lights. “Change your clothes. I am going to show you something different.”

With that, he tossed a brand new racing suit and a helmet to Pei Tingsong. “Today, I will show you what a professional racer looks like.”

By the time Lu Xun had practically pushed him into the passenger seat and buckled his harness, Pei Tingsong still felt a profound sense of unreality. Since the previous night, his relationship with Lu Xun had felt like a derailed train racing in an unpredictable direction. Now, he was actually about to go racing with him.

It was utterly nonsensical, but before he could process the thought further, Lu Xun ignited the engine. The car let out a low, menacing growl that made Pei Tingsong’s heart tremble in sync with the vibrations.

Amidst the mechanical cacophony, Lu Xun turned his head. Behind the thick visor of the helmet, Pei Tingsong could not see his expression, but he could clearly hear Lu Xun’s smiling voice through the internal communication system. “Sit tight. If you are scared, you can close your eyes.”

Pei Tingsong wanted to scoff at that. Who did Lu Xun think he was looking down on? Who would be afraid?

Unfortunately, before he could retort, Lu Xun floored the accelerator, and the car shot forward like an arrow released from a bow.

The intense force pinned Pei Tingsong against his seat. The scenery outside became a blur of flowing light and shadows as it retreated at a frantic pace. He could hear the sharp screech of tires against the pavement. At every turn, the car drifted in a state that felt dangerously close to losing control. The centrifugal force was so strong that Pei Tingsong felt as though Lu Xun was shaking his soul right out of his body.

The wind howled outside the helmet like a roaring beast.

It was too fast. It was so fast that Pei Tingsong could barely breathe. In an instant, every previous thought, every worry, and that invisible wall of social class were violently torn apart by absolute speed. Pei Tingsong could think of nothing else. He could only feel his heart pounding as if it were about to explode in his chest.

“Ah!”

He heard himself let out an involuntary, short cry. Fearing it was embarrassing, he immediately suppressed the rest of the scream in his throat. After all, Lu Xun had been driving in complete silence. If Pei Tingsong screamed, it would only prove Lu Xun’s earlier comment about him being afraid.

Pei Tingsong refused to lose face.

However, he soon heard Lu Xun’s laughter. When it came through the communication system, it carried an indescribable, husky sexiness. Combined with the sound of Lu Xun’s labored breathing, it was exceptionally captivating. Pei Tingsong felt a sudden warmth at the tips of his ears.

“Scared?”

“Who is scared?” Pei Tingsong snapped back.

Lu Xun laughed again. Following a nearly perfect drift through a corner, Pei Tingsong felt his entire body being pulled by the seatbelts. The world seemed to be spinning.

While his head was swimming, he heard Lu Xun’s voice rise suddenly. “Pei Tingsong!”

The roar of the engine and the wind was so loud that Lu Xun was practically shouting. “Just scream! Do not hold it in! Racing is the art of release! Shout out all the things that make you unhappy, all the things that are unfair!”

Lu Xun’s voice was incredibly persuasive. Perhaps it was the dizziness and liberation brought by the extreme speed, or perhaps it was Lu Xun’s allure, but the string that Pei Tingsong had kept pulled tight finally snapped.

Taking a deep breath, he opened his throat and shouted with all his strength. “AAAAAH!”

There were no specific words or events, just a primal, direct release of emotion. The howling wind swallowed his cries.

Pei Tingsong could not see Lu Xun’s face, but in this deafening clamor and heart stopping speed, he felt he could see Lu Xun with absolute clarity. He saw those beautiful green eyes, the effortless way his fingers controlled the steering wheel, and the bold smile on his lips.

Pei Tingsong felt his heart racing, but he could no longer tell if it was because of the terrifying speed or because of the man controlling it.

After an unknown amount of time, the car finally came to a steady stop at the starting line with a graceful fishtail. The world suddenly fell silent, leaving only the faint hum of the cooling engine and the drum like thudding of Pei Tingsong’s heart.

The beats were crystal clear.

Neither of them moved or spoke. In the cramped space of the cockpit, they simply breathed in silence through their heavy helmets. It was not just hormones from the speed flowing through the air. There was also an indefinable, lingering tension.

Finally, Lu Xun moved first. He removed his helmet, and his hair was damp with sweat. A few stray strands fell across his brow, adding a touch of wildness to his overly exquisite features.

He turned to look at Pei Tingsong, and his eyes were shining intensely. “Well? Was that exhilarating?”

Hearing this, Pei Tingsong slowly removed his own helmet. His cheeks were still flushed from the exertion, and his eyes were misty and bright from the recent thrill. He opened his mouth slightly, realizing his throat was raspy from shouting, but he eventually gave a firm nod. “It was exhilarating.”

He truly meant it. It was no wonder wealthy heirs loved racing. There was a genuine thrill in leaving the entire world behind.

At his response, Lu Xun smiled triumphantly. He shook his head slightly, resembling a large feline that had just been stroked the right way.

They got out of the car and leaned against the still hot chassis. Lu Xun unscrewed a bottle of water and handed it to Pei Tingsong before opening one for himself. He took several large gulps of water, and because of his hurried movements, a few droplets slid down his jawline and disappeared into his collar.

The evening breeze blew past, carrying away some of the heat. Lu Xun looked at the brightly lit track in the distance as if remembering something.

“Hey, you know what?” he said suddenly. “I just remembered my first official race. I beat a veteran who had been practicing for seven or eight years. He was very skilled and worked hard, so he was furious when he lost to me. After the race, he blocked me and said the only reason I won was because my car was a custom build he could never afford in his lifetime.”

Lu Xun let out a short laugh and shook his head. “Alright, I admit he had a point. Setting aside technical skill, the hardware is indeed important. But the world is inherently unfair. That is decided the moment we are born.”

He turned his head to look at Pei Tingsong. “But whether it is driving or living, what kind of car you drive or where your starting point is sometimes does not really matter.”

Lu Xun’s gaze was deep, and he offered a smile when he met Pei Tingsong’s eyes. “What matters is whether people eventually have the ability to drive that car to the destination they want to reach, right?”

Having said this, Lu Xun finished the rest of his water and accurately tossed the empty bottle into a nearby bin. He turned back, and his gaze fell once more on Pei Tingsong’s flushed cheeks. The lights of the track reflected in Pei Tingsong’s dark pupils like a scattering of stars.

The air suddenly became thick. A silent ambiguity quietly spread and began to ferment. Lu Xun leaned in slightly closer.

Pei Tingsong could even smell the faint scent of sweat on Lu Xun, mixed with the gasoline in the air. It was a dizzying fragrance. Lu Xun’s gaze slowly swept over Pei Tingsong’s brow, the bridge of his nose, and finally rested on his reddened lips, which were parted slightly as he breathed.

Then, his Adam’s apple bobbed, almost imperceptibly.